Police Recovered Guns, Then Released The Suspects” — 70-Year-Old FCT Guard Alleges Complicity In Mpape Attacks, Seeks N100m
A 70-year-old security guard, Atoki Benson Olaniyi, has accused police authorities of shielding Peter David, popularly known as “Sarkin Fili,” his wife and their armed associates despite complaints of assaults, intimidation and alleged land-grabbing in Mpape, Abuja.
In a fundamental rights application before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Olaniyi alleges that police recovered unlicensed guns, machetes and military uniforms during an investigation but subsequently released the suspects with the exhibits. He claims officers later arrested and detained him instead of protecting him as a complainant.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2250/2026, names the couple, Inspector Bisong, CSP Mustapha Isah, the FCT Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General overseeing Zone 7 and the Inspector-General of Police as respondents. Olaniyi seeks ₦100 million in damages and protection against further harassment and unlawful detention.
According to paragraphs 20–35 of his affidavit, more than 15 alleged victims gave statements at the FCT Police Command. Olaniyi alleges that the investigation nevertheless failed to stop the attacks.
“That instead of prosecuting the 1st and 2nd Respondents and other arrested militants for their atrocities, the Commissioner of police (MMU) is alleged to have compromised the case to let them back to the society with the recovered exhibits to continue their usual business of maiming and intimidation of innocent residents,” the affidavit states.
Olaniyi alleges that the couple controls about 50 armed men who occupy disputed land through threats and violence. He says members of the group attacked him on June 24, 2026, after he cautioned them against firing guns in the neighbourhood, striking him with guns and machetes.
A passing Guards Brigade patrol allegedly rescued him and arrested some of the attackers. Olaniyi acknowledges that police subsequently prosecuted the alleged assault before the Mpape Magistrates’ Court, where the case remains pending.
However, he claims the couple continued threatening him and pressuring him to withdraw the charges. His affidavit also describes alleged attacks on a family and two other men during disputes over land.
Olaniyi says officers detained him from September 4 to 7 following a counter-complaint from the couple. Their petition, as described in his affidavit, accused him of giving false information, pretending to be injured and instigating the demolition of their property by FCT Development Control.
He denies those allegations and questions why police detained him over issues connected to an assault already being prosecuted.
The allegations warrant the Inspector-General’s intervention to ensure an impartial investigation, establish what happened to any recovered weapons and protect complainants and witnesses. The court papers contain no responses from the respondents or judgment establishing the claims.
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